A novel and cost effective methodology for qualitative screening of alkalo-thermophilic cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms using agricultural wastes

摘要

Qualitative screening of alkalo-thermophilic cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms was done on agricultural residues. Since xylan is an expensive substrate for the isolation of xylanase producing microorganisms, the possibility of using wheat bran for screening of these microorganisms was investigated. Screening was carried out on wheat bran for the selection of xylanolytic microorganisms, on waste paper for the evaluation of cellulase free xylanolytic microorganisms, and on citrus peel for screening of pectinolytic microorganisms. Qualitative analysis of xylanase, pectinase and cellulase activities depicted that the zones obtained on nutrient agar medium containing agricultural residues were apparent and comparable with the zones obtained on nutrient agar medium containing commercial substrates. A strategy of using cost effective wheat-bran, wastepaper and citrus-peel for the isolation of cellulase free xylano-pectinolytic microorganisms is a novel and promising method and will ultimately bring down the cost of screening of these enzyme producing microorganisms.